Moulded container

ABSTRACT

A moulded container, particularly for the packaging of frangible articles, such as eggs. The container is characterized by a tray having a plurality of cup-shaped cells formed therein, each receiving one of a number of similar articles, which may vary in size and contour, but each having a transverse cross section which is essentially circular. Each of the cells has at least one planar surface therein resulting in a diametrical distance which is less than the normal diameter of said cell in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said cell. The thickness of the moulded material at such planar surface is less than the thickness of the material forming the cell, so that when the cell is loaded, and the article contacts the planar surface, the latter deflects the larger articles, and increases materially the amount of wedging of the article as it approaches the bottom of the cell. The deflection of the thinner planar surfaces of the cell thus absorbs energy and minimizes rebound of the egg. By reason of such deflection, a range of different sized articles may be accommodated successfully.

United States Patent Donaldson 1 Feb. 22, 1972 [54] MOULDED CONTAINER [72] Inventor: David Donaldson, Wilmington, Del.

[73] Assignee: Container Corporation of America,

Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Dec. 10, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 883,896

[52] US. Cl ..229/2.5, 229/29 M, 217/265 [51] ..B65d 1/24, B65d 1/36 [58] Field of Search ..229/2.5, 29 M; 217/265 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,123,519 3/1964 Reifers et al. ..229/2.5 UX 3,145,895 8/1964 Reifers ....229/2.5 3,185,370 5/1965 Reifers et al. ...229/2.5 3,326,443 6/1967 Burkett ..229/2.5

Primary Examiner-Leonard Summer Assistant Examiner-Stephen Marcus Attorney-Carpenter, Ostis & Lindberg [57] ABSTRACT A moulded container, particularly for the packaging of frangible articles, such as eggs. The container is characterized bya tray having a plurality of cup-shaped cells formed therein, each receiving one of a number of similar articles, which may vary in size and contour, but each having a transverse cross section which is essentially circular. Each of the cells has at least one planar surface therein resulting in a diametrical distance which is less than the normal diameter of said cell in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said cell. The

thickness of the moulded material at such planar surface is less than the thickness of the material forming the cell, so that when the cell is loaded, and the article contacts the planar surface, the latter deflects the larger articles, and increases materially the amount of wedging of the article as it approaches the bottom of the cell. The deflection of the thinner planar surfaces of the cell thus absorbs energy and minimizes rebound of the egg. By reason of such deflection, a range of difierent sized articles may be accommodated successfully.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEUFEBZZ m2 sum 1 0F 53 PIC-3.2

INVENTOR DAV] D DONALDSON ATTORNEYS PATENTED F E8 2 2 I872 SHEET 2 OF 3 INVENTOR DAVID DONALDSON BY W ATTORNEYS PATENTEDFEB 22 m2 SHEET 3 0F 3 INVENTOR DAVID DONALDSON RNEYS MOULDED CONTAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to containers for frangible articles, such as eggs or the like, and more particularly to containers formed from mouldable material and adapted to retain articles of slightly varying size and contour.

2. The Prior Art Containers of this general type are generally moulded from foamed styrene. These containers are adapted to be employed with automatic loading loading machinery, and during the filling operation the frangible articles are often fed to the cupshaped cells of the container with such velocity that they bounce in the cell rather than settling to the bottom thereof. This invention is directed to the provision of structure within each cell to give a certain amount of frictional contact of the article with the sides of the cell prior to the movement thereof to the bottom of the cell, to thereby reduce the velocity of the article all to the end that it will be wedged nicely into the cell without bouncing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The structure according to the present invention contemplates the provision in each article retaining cell of one or more planar surfaces formed in the sides thereof, and arranged to contact each article prior to its being finally positioned, to reduce the velocity of the article as it moves to its final position. The distance from such planar surface to a diametrically opposed point on the cell is less than the normal diameter of the cell in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the cell. The container according to the present invention is characterized by an upward-extending post formed in the tray containing the cells, and located between contiguous cupshaped cells. These posts have the function of guiding the articles to their resting position in the cell.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a container constructed in accordance with the present invention, the container being shown in its open position ready to be loaded;

FIG. 2 is an end view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view thereof showing the cover in closed position.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view, to an enlarged scale, showing details of the cup-shaped cells;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view, certain parts being shown in elevation, taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 looking the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a detailed sectional view of one of the cup-shaped cells taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary isometric view showing the container according to the present invention in the open position thereof.

SPECIFICATIONS The improved container according to the present invention is referred to by the reference numeral 10 and is preferably fonned in a moulding operation using foamed styrene as a moulding material. The container 10 includes a tray portion 11, and a cover portion 12 hingedly connected to an edge of the tray portion 11 by an integrally moulded hinge 13. A locking flap 14 is connected to tray 11 by an integrally formed hinged 16, and locks to a front wall 17 of the cover portion 12. Details of such locking structure forms no part of the present invention, and accordingly are not described in detail herein.

The tray portion 11 includes a deck 18 having a plurality of cup-shaped cells 19 which depend therefrom. The cells 19 are separated by longitudinal partition segments 21 and by transverse partition segments 22, the intersection of the partition segments 21 and 22 having a truncated post 23 thereat which also forms part of contiguous cells 19. The latter has a top surface 24 contacting the underside of a cover panel 26 of the cover portion 12 when the container is closed.

Each of the cup-shaped cells 19 has a bottom surface 27, and rib members 28 extend upward therefrom to engage the sides of the article as it moves to position to the bottom of cell 19 during the loading operation.

Each of the cells 19 is provided with at least one planar surface 29, andeach of the truncated posts 23 has the sides thereof provided with such planar surface. Preferably the construction is such that each of the cells 19, including a portion v of the truncated post 23 forming a part thereof, is provided with up to four such planar surfaces, depending on the size of the articles being packed. These may be of any geometrical shape, but are shown as generally elliptical, and the thickness of the mould material at such planar surface 29 is preferably less than the thickness of the material forming cell 19.

The diametrical distance (d,) between such planar surface 29 and the opposite side of the cell 19 is less than the diameter D of the cell, both dimensions being taken in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the cell and the truncated post.

The container according to the present invention is particularly adapted for use in automatic-loading machines, as well as hand-loading machines, and during the loading operation the articles attain sufficient velocity to cause them to move to the bottom of such cells against the ribs 28 formed thereat. By reason of the provision of the planar surface 29 having the diameter or distance therebetween less than the diameter of the cell but for the provision of such planar surface, the article is caused to contact such planar surface prior to moving to the bottom of the cell. Such contact of the article decreases the velocity thereof, so that the same will not bounce nor break when it reaches the bottom of the cell. The thickness at the planar surface 29, preferably being less than the thickness of the material forming the remainder of the cell, enables the same to yield sufficiently to enable the fatter, larger examples of articles, within the size range contemplated in the particular case, to give constant firm holding of the article.

I claim:

1. In a container formed from mouldable material and having a substantially rectangular tray, said tray comprising:

a. a plurality of similar, substantially cup-shaped cells formed therein, each receiving one of a number of similar articles of slightly varying sizes and contours, and being in transverse cross section essentially circular;

b. each of said cells being formed with at least one planar surface resulting in a distance diametrically less than the normal diameter of said cell in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said cell;

c. the thickness of the material at said planar surface being less than the thickness of the material forming said cupshaped cell, whereby upon loading of said cell with said article, the said an first contacts said planar surface to materially increase the amount of wedging of said article in said cell.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein the thickness of the material at said planar surface is approximately 33 percent less than the thickness of said cell.

3. In a container formed from mouldable material,

a. a tray having a plurality of similar, substantially cupshaped cells formed therein, each receiving one of a number of similar shaped articles of slightly varying sizes and contours, and being in transverse cross section essentially circular;

a tray cover hinged to one side of said tray and having a cover panel spaced from said tray;

c. an upwardly extending post formed in said tray contiguous cup-shaped cells;

(I. that portion of said post being formed with at least one planar surface resulting in a diametrical distance which is slightly less than the normal diameter of said cell in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said cell and said post;

between e. the thickness of the material at said planar surface being less than the thickness of the material forming said cupshaped cell whereby upon loading of said cell with said article, the said article contacts said planar surface. 

1. In a container formed from mouldable material and having a substantially rectangular tray, said tray comprising: a. a plurality of similar, substantially cup-shaped cells formed therein, each receiving one of a number of similar articles of slightly varying sizes and contours, and being in transverse cross section essentially circular; b. each of said cells being formed with at least one planar surface resulting in a distance diametrically less than the normal diameter of said cell in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said cell; c. the thickness of the material at said planar surface being less than the thickness of the material forming said cup-shaped cell, whereby upon loading of said cell with said article, the said art first contacts said planar surface to materially increase the amount of wedging of said article in said cell.
 2. A container according to claim 1 wherein the thickness of the material at said planar surface is approximately 33 percent less than the thickness of said cell.
 3. In a container formed from mouldable material, a. a tray having a plurality of similar, substantially cup-shaped cells formed therein, each receiving one of a number of similar shaped articles of slightly varying sizes and contours, and being in transverse cross section essentially circular; b. a tray cover hinged to one side of said tray and having a cover panel spaced from said tray; c. an upwardly extending post formed in said tray between contiguous cup-shaped cells; d. that portion of said post being formed with at least one planar surface resulting in a diametrical distance which is slightly less than the normal diameter of said cell in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said cell and said post; e. the thickness of the material at said planar surface being less than the thickness of the material forming said cup-shaped cell whereby upon loading of said cell with said article, the said article contacts said planar surface. 